Pregnancy

Summary

• Current recommendations for caffeine intake during pregnancy range from 200-300 mg per day from all sources, not just coffee*.
• The majority of the research focuses on the effects of caffeine during   pregnancy, not coffee consumption specifically.
• The onset of nausea, vomiting and appetite loss in early pregnancy is usually responsible for a reduction in coffee consumption, and hence caffeine intake.

Women with healthy pregnancies may have a higher level of circulating hormones, provoking a stronger avoidance of caffeine in early pregnancy than those women who later miscarry.

• Studies over the last decade fail to show convincing evidence for an increase in risk of reproductive or perinatal complications with moderate caffeine consumption (200-300mg/day from all sources, not simply coffee*).

*A regular cup of coffee contains approximately 100mg of caffeine.